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We went back to our original path and crossed the bridge. Just by the time we reached the other side, 3 midgets with matching shorts and shoes came on attack position. The chubbiest one stood at the center. He seems to be the leader. The one standing just behind him was the tallest. Lastly the third one, found on the leader's right, had an unbearably weird hair that some stood at the back of his head, some were missing, and some were as flat as paper which were found in front.

The tallest suddenly attacked me, took the saucer I was holding and then the three ran. I followed the one who got my saucer and the other children I was with ran after the other 2.

The kid was sly and fast but I was faster. Soon, I had catch up with him but precisely after that, he took a turn right and passed the saucer to the chubby one. Chubby here, made me took circles and was also rather fast. Next thing I knew, I was back on the bridge when I noticed him running towards the cottage of Lhaeka. I ran as fast as I could when I discovered that Chubby was trying to return my fish back to the waters. I stretched my hand but instead, he tripped before I could reach him. I ran over to see if he was ok. He hurt his left elbow. I help him get-up then I found my saucer cracked on the ground. One of the fish was wiggling for it's life but sad to say that the other was already pulped on the ground. I took my eyes off it and concentrated on the one living.

The only possible idea of a death like that was possibly the metal deep dish crashing on it. Because on my view, the fish now looks like a cooked shrimp without it's shell but has fins and a colorful tail.

I tried to scoop it on the ground but it kept on moving. I tried very hard to catch it with my heart, but I was too afraid to touch a dieing fish jumping, so I tried and I tried.

I felt like I had no more hope. And just when I got them, they were taken away from me. I felt like I was starting to cry. The kid stood there looking down at me and I looked at him too, with all of my will but I did not get angry.

I continue trying to catch the fish then it jump over his foot. The kid caught it and gave it to me. "You like it don't you," was the only thing he said to me. He never apologized and just went away. I took the fish and put it back in the pond, deciding to leave it there for now. I went to look at the dead fish for the last time and took it using the biggest piece of broken porcelain I could get. It slid like jelly on the platter.I said some prayers before giving it a bit water from the pond itself and a last offering flower I got from a bunch of weeds. I stood up and took them together to the forest just around the corner. I dug a little hole and placed everything at place. I put back the soil and went away, say good-bye again.

Now, I have lost sight of the midgets and the children. I went to cross the bridge hoping to spot some of them. I saw the 3 midgets standing by the post. I walked towards them, said thank you and went away. Suddenly, I felt one of them pulling me back so I stopped and looked at them. "Why did you have to say Thank You?" the tall one asked. I told them that whether they had tricked me or not, Chubby had still gave me back one of my fish. The weird said, "Where is it then?" I replied that I took it back to the pond. Then Chubby interrupted and said, "Why?" This time, I did not answer.

He continued, "The fishes, they were important to us. The first fish there was brought by us from the river. We were always with Lhaeka before you came! But something was not quite right. She never smiled at us. We had always tried to make her happy. When you came, she just smiled so happily. What's worse is that both of you never met before! They were our fishes! And..."

I embraced the three kids with open arms. I know what they feel. For something to be taken away from you. I realized that three of them had squeezed me tighter and I felt their tears on my chest, warm and tender.

After a long time, they let go of me, blushing. Together we held hands in unison and went to look for the other children I was with. He tall one last saw them near the market area so that was the first place we checked and they were there. They ran towards me, stopping to see that I was with the midgets.

The three of them hid behind me but I insisted of introducing the three of them to the children. They exchanged looks to see how the other would react. I was getting a little bit impatient so I held their arms out and shook them. Both of the team's representatives took it by surprise.

What's good about this is that all of us are friends now.